Marking machine



Nov. 15, 1938. w. s. PETTY MARKING MACHINE 6 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1937 Y. WT n TT N m m WP M 5/0 .m/ 0

Nov. 15, 1938. s ET 2,136,461

MARKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

I BY W/LL/AM J. PETTV. Fig.2- MIX ATTORNEY.

Nov. 15, 1938. W, s TY MARKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 4, 1937 Illlll IN VENTOR. 5. PfTTV.

BY W/4L/4/v ATTORNEY.

11, aw. W. s. PETTY J M MARKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENT OR. l/WLL/fl/W 52 P157714 Nov. 15, 1938. w. s. PETTY EJ36 461 MARKING:- MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1957 6 sheets-sh et e 34 9? i :3 )1? in 28 72173 Li -mu l! IIIH INVENTOR.

' W/u MM 6? FUN.

I ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Young and William Young,

Colo.

both of Denver,

Application February 4, 1937, Serial No. 124,052

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a marking machine,

, more particularly of the type for placing identification marks upon laundry and has for its principal object the provision of a rapid, simple, lightweight,- highly efficient machine which can be used by anyone without damage to the goods or the operator.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the large number of complicated parts usually employed in a machine of this character and to enclose all-of the type wheel operating mechanism within the type wheels themselves so that an enclosing cabinet or case will not be necessary.

A further object is to provide a highly efficient inking mechanism for the type wheels which can be quickly and easily reached for the re-inking and which will not interfere with the goods being marked or the operation of the machine.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a left side elevation of the improved machine.

Fig. 2 'is a similar view illustrating the work mandrel in the closed position;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the inking pad in the type engaging position.

Fig. t is a sectional view through the inking pad with the latter in re-inking position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the complete machine.

Fig.6 is a detail side view of a typical type wheel with the cover plate removed.

Fig. '7 is a detail rear face view of one of the drive gears.

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section, taken on the line 8--8, Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a left side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 11 is a front view of the machine.

Fig. 12 is a detail section through the pawl housing.

' Fig. 13 is a detail section through the pawl housing taken on the line Iii-I3, Fig. 12.

The improved machine employs a base ID from which two A-shaped standards H and I2 extend 5 upwardly to support a series of annular type wheels I! provided with type characters 18, with which the actual marking is accomplished. The standards H and I2 terminate in circular disclike upper extremities which form cover plates for the open interior of the type wheels. 5

A third standard 59 is spaced from, and extends above, the type wheels l3 to support an index sector l4 carrying an index l5 of the characters carried by the type wheels M, such as the alphabet and the numbers from one to zero. 10

Each of the type wheels i3 is provided with internal gear teeth i1, and each is rotated by a countergear it! having corresponding teeth in mesh therewith. It is preferred to have the internal gear teeth I! correspond in number to the characters I6. The counter-gears l8 ride upon a counter-shaft l9 supported between the cover plate portions of the standards. Each of the counter-gears I8 is formed with a concentric driven pinion 20 thereon, and each of the driven pinions 20 is driven from an independent drive gear 2i.

The drive gears 2| are rotatable upon a hollow shaft 22 which is journalled in the standards II, it, and [59 and terminates in a fixed gear 60 at the standard 59. The fixed gear and the hollow shaft 22 can be rotated by means of a setting lever 23 which is pivoted on the standard 59 and carries a gear segment 6| in mesh with the fixed gear to. Normally the shaft 22 can rotate freely within the drive gears M. The gears, however, are selectively rotated from the shaft 22 by means of a key 24 which extends through a longitudinal slot in the hollow shaft 22 from a slidable control bar 25 within the shaft.

Each of the driven gears 2i is formed with a passage 28 for the passage of the key 24. li'he back of each gear is formed with a pear-shaped boss 62 having an annular chamber 63, for the reception of the key 24', which terminates in a stop tongue 64 against which the key strikes to rotate the gear. Thus, if the key 24 is within the chamber of the first gear 2| it will contact the stop 64 therein to rotate the first type wheel. The remaining type wheels do not move since the key 24 can be in but one of the wheel chambers 63 at a time. It travels from .gear to gear through the passages 26, into successive engagement with the gears 2i due to longitudinal movement of the control bar 25.

The control bar is formed with a rack of ratchet teeth 21 which are successively engaged by a toothed pawl 28. The pawl 28 contacts with a fixed cam 29 at the completion of each downward stroke of the lever 23. This contact forces thepawl2ltotheright,anditi nturn,through theratchetteethllpullsthecorelltothefllht soastobringthekeyflwithinthenextsucoessive drive gear. Acheck pawl 80, mounted alongside the pawl ",clicks over the rack teeth to prevent return of the bar fl.

Thetypecharactersonthevarioustypewheels llarealignedwitheachotherbymeans ofa series of individual click members ll which are forced between the teeth of the counter gears 'llbymeansofclickspringslltocausethe setting teeth a, one of which projects from the pear-shaped boss" on each of the gears II. A stationaryaligningstudllstopsalloftheresetting teeth 33 at the "serof or starting position.

A compression spring 31 constantly urges the barfltothestartingpositionagainsttheaction of the pawls II and 38 and naturally if these pawls are lifted out of engagement with the teethftthisspringwillsnapthebarflback to its starting position within the first type wheel. The lifting of the pawls is accomplished by means of aresettingcam II whichissecured on the segment gear-134 so as to move with the resetting lever ll. cam is formed with a hooked extremity which passes under projecting extremities ll on the'p'awls II and 38 and lifts them out of engagement with the teeth 21 to allowthespringlltosnapthebarlibacktoits starting position.

The setting lever 23 and the internal gears are so timed that they line up the chosen characters on the type wheels II at a point where they will be struck by a cushioned platen ll. The platen 4| is carried on the upper extremity of a platen lever 42 hinged to the base at It. The goodsto be imprinted are laid across the platen 4i and held by the fingers of the operator with his thumbs bearing against thumb rests 44. The platen lever and the goods are forced forwardly against the type wheels to give the desired impression.

The type at the impression point is inked in advance of the impression by means of an ink pad 45 which is carried in a rotatable pad holder 46 on the upper extremity of a hinged toggle lever. The toggle lever consists of an upper lever 41 and a lower lever (I, hinged together on a hinge pin 40 and constantly held in an extended position by means of a stop 66 and a tension spring Bl. The hinge pin 4! is connectedthrough the medium of a. connecting rod 5| with the platen lever 42. The toggle lever carries, at each side of its upper extremity, a roller 2. The rollers I2 engage adjustable tracks 53 at the side of the type wheels. The tracks 53 are mounted through the medium of slotted screw openings so that their positions can be adjusted to allow thepadfltocontactthetypewithanydesired pressure.

asbeforestatedthetrll isalignedbymeans of the click members ll. However, to give additional assurance of alignment, an aligning wedge Ilisprovidedhavlngafaceextendingacross theentireseriaoftypewheelsandshapedto pass between the characters It thereon. This wedge is forced between the characters to lock the wheels immediately before they are engaged by the platen ll. This is accomplished by means of a spring 5! mounted on a spring rod 5. The spring rod is connected at its forward extremity with the toggle lever 41.

To clarify the description, let us follow a typicaloperatiomassumingthegoodsaretobe marked with the marking RHG. At the start the type wheels are all set at zero position by means of the resetting lever 35. The operator now raises the setting lever 23 until its indicating pointer (see Il) comes opposite the letter "R. This causes the shaft 22 to rotate "downwardly on its forward side and causes the key 2| to engagethestopllofthefirsttypewheelsoas to rotate it upwardly at its forward edge until the "R" comes opposite the platen pad II. He now drops the setting lever 23 to the bottom and then raises it to the H" podtion. The downward movement of the resetting lever causes the pawl 28 to contact the cam 28 which forces it to the right one tooth space so as to pull the bar 25 to the right and bring the key 24 within the second drive gear 2|. The next upward movement turns the second drive gear to bring its type wheel to the "H" position. Upon again returning the lever 23 to the starting position, the pawl 28 again engages the teethj'l and pulls the key 24 into the third drive gear 2! which, in turn, turns its type wheel to the "G" podtion.

' The goods to be marked are now laid across the platen li and pressed forwardly against the type wheels. The first forward movement causes the connecting rod ii to swing the toggle lever 41 forwardlyto press the ink pad 45 against the set-up characters R H G. Further movement causes the connecting rod to collapse the toggle lever, as shown in Pig. 2, causing the rollers 52 to ride downwardly on the tracks It to swing the ink pad away from the marking position and away from the type. The final movement presses the goods against the inked, set-up characters, imprinting the letters R H G thereon. After all of the desired goods have been marked with the set characters, the operator pulls the resetting lever to the broken line position of Fig. 2, causing its segment gear 14 to rotate the resetting bar 32 within the type wheels to engage the teeth 33 and cause them to return the three used type wheels to their original starting position.

It is desired to call particular attention to the mounting of the ink pad 45. The latter is mounted in a rectangular holder, 46, which is pivoted along its longitudinal axis in a bracket on the upper extremity of the toggle lever 41. A leaf spring ll bears against the back of the pad holder and the latter is provided with a finger knob I by means of which it may be quickly turned to the working position of Fig. 3 'or the re-inking position of Fig. 4, the spring ll acting to hold the pad in either desired position. This enables the pad to be readily inked without removal and without the use of tools.

The type wheels consist of annular'members rotatably mounted about a cylindrical bearing sleeve H which serves as a housing for the gears l8, 2! and II.

The pawls 28 and 38 are mounted in a pawl housing 12 which is afllxed to and rotates with the hollow shaft 22. The pawls are preferably similar in contour and both are pivoted on a pivot pin 13 in the pawl housing 12. The pawl 28 however, is provided with a slotted pin opening so that it may be moved longitudinally as well as hingedly. The pawl 38 is simply hinged on the pin 73. Two similar tension springs 14 hold the pawls in engagement with the bar teeth.

The setting lever 23 is clamped to the gear segment 6| by means of a clamp screw 15 which passes through on accurate opening 16 in the arm to allow initial adjustment.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a marking machine, a series of annular type wheels having internal gear teeth; a hollow sleeve serving as a bearing for said type wheels; an independent driven gear for each of said type wheels meshing with the internal teeth thereof; an independent drive gear meshing with each of said driven gears, all of said gears being located within said sleeve; and means for selectively rotating said drive gears.

2. In a marking machine, a series of annular type wheels having internal gear teeth; a hollow sleeve serving as a bearing for said type wheels; an independent'driven gear for each of said type wheels meshing with the internal teeth thereof; an independent drive gear meshing with each of said driven gears; a hollow shaft serving as a bearing for said drive gears; and a shiftable key on said hollow shaft for engaging said drive gears to successively secure them to said hollow shaft.

3. In a marking machine, a series of annular type wheels having internal gear teeth; a hollow sleeve serving as a bearing for said type wheels; an independent driven gear for each of said type wheels meshing with the internal teeth thereof;

an independent drive gear meshing with each of said driven gears; a hollow shaft serving as a bearing for said drive gears; a control rod longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft; a key projecting from said control rod through an axially extending slot in said hollow shaft so that as said control rod is moved longitudinally it will cause said key to successively engage said drive wheels.

4. In a marking machine, a series of annular type wheels having internal gear teeth; a hollow sleeve serving as a bearing for said type wheels; an independent driven gear for each of said type wheels meshing with the internal teeth thereof; an independent drive gear meshing with each of said driven gears; a hollow shaft serving as a bearing for said drive gears; a control rod longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft; a key projecting from said control rod through an axially extending slot in said hollow shaft; ratchet teeth on said control rod; a pawl engaging said teeth; and means for actuating said pawl in consequence of the rotation of said hollow shaft to cause said key to successively engage said drive wheels.

5. In amarking machine, a series'of annular type wheels having internal gear teeth; a hollow sleeve serving as a bearing for said type wheels; an independent driven gear for each of said type wheels meshing with the internal teeth thereof;

an independent drive gear meshing with each of said driven gears; a hollow shaft serving as a bearing for said drive gears; a control rod longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft; a key projecting from said control rod through an axially extending slot in said teeth on said control rod; a pawl engaging said teeth; and a stationary cam positioned so as to be contacted by said pawl in consequence of the rotation of said hollow shaft so as to cause said control rod to successively engage said drive wheels.

6. In a marking machine, a series of annular type wheels having internal gear teeth; a hollow sleeve serving as a bearing for said type wheels; an independent driven gear for each of said type wheels meshing with the internal teeth thereof; an independent drive gear meshing with each of said driven gears; means for selectively rotating said drive gears, said internal teeth corresponding in number to the number of type characters on said type wheels; and a spring actuated click engaging the teeth of each of said driven gears for holding said type wheels in preset position.

7. In a marking machine; a series of annular type wheels having internal gear teeth; a hollow sleeve serving as a bearing for said type wheels; an independent driven gear for each of said type wheels meshing with the internal teeth thereof; an independent drive gear meshing with each of said driven gears; a hollow shaft serving as a bearing for said drive gears; a shiftable key on said hollow shaft for engaging said drive gears to successively secure them to said hollow shaft; a projecting member on each of said drive gears; shaft; ing said resetting arm into contact with said projecting members to return said type wheels to their initial position.

8. A marking machine comprising: a series of annular type wheels carrying mar g characters; independent sets of operating gear within said series for each of said type wheel a manually operated setting lever; an arcuate index for determining the position of said setting lever; and means for transmitting the successive movements of said setting lever to successive sets of operating gears so as to move said type wheels in succession to marking position.

9. In a marking machine, a series of annular type wheels having internal gear teeth; a hollow sleeve serving as a bearing for said type wheels; an independent driven gear for each of said type wheels meshing with the internal teeth thereof; an independent drive gear meshing with each of said driven gears; a hollow shaft serving as a bearing for said drive gears; a control rod longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft; a key projecting from said control rod through an axially extending slot in said hollow shaft; ratchet teeth on said control rod; a pawl engaging saidteeth; means for actuating said pawl in consequence of the rotation of said hollow shaft to cause said key to successively engage said drive wheels; a spring urging said control rod against the action of said pawl; and means for lifting said pawl out of engagement with said I ratchet teeth to allow said spring to return said operating rod to its initial position.

10. A marking machine comprising: a series of annular type wheels carrying marking characters; independent sets of operating gears within said series for each of said type wheels; a manhollow shaft; ratchet.

ually operated setting lever; an arcuate index for determining the position of said setting lever; means for transmitting the movements of said setting lever to successive sets of operatinggearssoastomovesaidtypewheels in succession to marking position: means for inking the marking characters of said type wheels when the latter are at marking position;

andmeansi'orpressingthegoodstobemarked against the inked characters. I

11. A marking machine comprising a base; a series oi annular type wheels supported above said base. said marking wheels carrying marking characters about their periphery; means (or successivelyrotatingsaidtypewheelstobring selected characters into alignment at a marking position; a platen lever hinged to said base; a work platen carried by said platen lever opposite said marking position; an ink pad; a pair oi hinged-together toggle levers hinged to said base at their lower extremity and supporting said ink pad at said marking position; a spring member maintaining said toggle levers extended; and a connecting member extending from said platen lever to the hinge point of said toggle levers so that the nrst movement of said platen leverwillswingsaidinkpadagainstsaidtype wheels at said marking position: and further movement will collapse said toggle levers at their hinged-together point to withdraw said ink pad from said marking position.

12. A marking machine comprising a base: a series of annular type wheels supported above said base, said marking wheels carrying marking characters about their periphery; means for a isae ei suceessivelyrotatingsaidtypewheelstobring selected characters into alignment at a marking position; a platen lever hinged to said base; a work platen carried by said platen lever opposite said marking position; an inlr pad; a pair of hinged- -together toggle levers hinged to said base at their lower extremity and supporting said ink pad at said marking position; a spring member maintaining said toggle levers extended; a connecting member extending from said platen lever to the hinge point of said toggle levers so that the that movement oi said platen lever will swing said ink pad against said type wheels at said marking position and further movement will collapse said toggle levers at their hinged-together point to withdraw said ink pad from said marking position; and stationary guide members for guiding said bed from said marking position as said toggle levers are collapsed.

13. In a marking machine of the class described having a control rod and key for successively engaging the gears of a series to a hollow shaft, means for shifting said control rod comprising: ratchet teeth on said control rod; a pawl contacting said teeth, said pawl being mounted on said hollow shaft so as to rotate therewith and being longitudinally shiftable thereon; a stationary cam adjacent said shaft positioned to contact said cam as said shaft is rotated to cause said cam to shift said control rod to bring said key into the next successive gear on said shaft; and means for rotating said hollow shaft.

WILLIAM S. PE'I'I'Y.. 

